Do I Need a Will?
Ten yes/no questions about your circumstances. We score how urgently you need a will and explain why, based on UK intestacy rules and the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold. No sign-up. No email.
Most UK adults need a will. If you own property, have children under 18, live with an unmarried partner, run a business or have assets over £325,000, the case is urgent — UK intestacy rules will not match your wishes, and an unmarried partner inherits nothing. This quiz scores your exposure across the ten most common trigger factors.
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How the scoring works
Each "yes" answer adds a weighted score reflecting how much intestacy would deviate from typical wishes. The ten questions cover the most common UK trigger factors documented by Citizens Advice and the Ministry of Justice.
- Low (0–3): You probably don't have urgent intestacy exposure today, but circumstances change.
- Medium (4–6): At least one factor would cause intestacy to misallocate your estate.
- High (7–10): Multiple factors. Likely material misallocation under intestacy.
- Critical (11+): An unmarried partner, business assets or stepchildren mean intestacy would produce a clearly wrong result.
What happens without a will
If you die without a valid will (intestacy), your estate is distributed under fixed statutory rules — the Administration of Estates Act 1925 in England and Wales. The rules don't care about your wishes:
- A surviving spouse takes the first £322,000 plus half the remainder. Children share the other half.
- Unmarried partners inherit nothing, regardless of how long you have lived together.
- Stepchildren are not recognised — only biological and legally adopted children.
- If there's no spouse, children, parents or siblings, distant relatives inherit. Failing that, your estate goes to the Crown.
If the quiz says you need a will, ClearLegacy delivers one in 20 minutes.
Fully online, fully automated. Legally valid under the Wills Act 1837. No solicitor visits, no phone calls, no waiting.
Start your willFrequently asked questions
- Do I need a will if I'm married?
- Yes if you want any control beyond intestacy. Without a will, a surviving spouse takes the first £322,000 plus half the remainder. Children share the other half. If you want a different split, to provide for stepchildren, or to use the residence nil-rate band efficiently, a will is essential.
- Do unmarried partners inherit without a will?
- No. UK intestacy rules give an unmarried partner zero automatic inheritance. A will is the only document that creates inheritance rights between cohabiting partners. See wills for unmarried couples.
- Do I need a will if I own property?
- Strongly recommended. Property is the largest single asset in most UK estates and triggers both the residence nil-rate band and the probate requirement. Without a will, the property is distributed under intestacy.
- At what age should I make a will?
- You must be 18 or over to make a valid UK will (16 in Scotland). Beyond that, the trigger moments are buying property, having a child, marrying, divorcing, business ownership or accumulating significant assets.
- How often should I update a will?
- Review every 3–5 years and after any major life event — marriage, divorce, new child, property purchase, business sale, or the death of a beneficiary or executor.
GOV.UK — Make a will · gov.uk/make-will
GOV.UK — Intestacy rules · gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will
Citizens Advice — Wills · citizensadvice.org.uk/wills
Administration of Estates Act 1925 · legislation.gov.uk
Wills Act 1837 · legislation.gov.uk
Last reviewed: 31 May 2026 by SL. Educational tool only — not legal advice.